In the hilly area of Hamada City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, a first successful drone-based lightning-triggering experiment was carried out between December 2024 and January 2025. To safeguard vital infrastructure, the test sought to create technologies that can safely control and actively trigger lightning.
The researchers employed a ground-based field mill to track the strength of the electric field during the experiment. A drone with a lightning-resistant cage was flown to 984 feet (300 meters) on December 13, 2024, when an oncoming thundercloud increased the electric field. The drone was wired to a ground switch, and when the switch was turned on, an abrupt shift in the electric field caused a lightning strike.